Question about a semi-truck vs car head on collision?

Question

What do you think will happen to the driver of a semi-truck in the following accident: Driving down a two lane highway a small car crosses over the center line and hits a large semi truck head on. Both vechiles are traveling at 55 mph. The impact zone is only about 3 feet. (meaning the vehicles clip each other, and the impact zone on the left side of each vechile is about 3 feet).

Do you think the Semi truck driver would be hurt in an accident of this magnitude?

Answer 1

Assuming that the semi driver was wearing a seatbelt, I'd say his chances of not being hurt would be pretty good (much better than the car's driver, at least).

Since the momentum of the truck is much greater than that of the car, the trucks deceleration at impact is going to be much slower than the car's. The truck would still end up going forward after the crash, while the car would quickly stop and end up going backward. The slower deceleration of the truck driver would mean that he would have less chance of injury.

Also, the truck driver's position is generally very high, so the car would impact below him. If the car was able to crush very far into the truck, it would more likely be below the cab of the truck.

Answer 2

Lets see...

If the truck is a conventional truck (long nose, with tilt back hood), and the driver has a seat belt on... then he should be able to retain control, depending on the load. Assuming it's the traditional tractor trailer, the driver should be able to hold control until he could stop. If the impact occurs on the driver side, then the chances of retaining control until stop are reduced. If it's a loaded low boy, expect it as well as the implement, tractor, machine it's using to be on it's side as well. It all depends on the drivers experience and the reaction time of the driver. The driver could be seriously injured or killed with or without a safety belt, the long nose provides a measure of safety however when hit with enough force the engine has been known to push forward into the cab, harming the driver.

If the truck is a COE (Cab Over Engine, cab tilt back), and the driver has the seat belt on, it's a good possibility the driver could be very injured, also depending on the load. Assuming it's the traditional tractor trailer, the driver might be able to hold control, providing he holds on tight enough and the power steering unit isn't destroyed upon impact. If the driver side see's the hardest hit, the chances of retaining control are reduced. It all depends on the amount of experience the driver has, as well as the amount of reaction time he is given. The driver could be seriously injured or killed with or without a safety belt, as the Cab Over Engines generally put the drivers closer to the point of impact much closer to the driver.

It goes with the points of impact. If it occured with a newer truck with a resessed front axle, the damage would be less (in terms of generalities) to the semi as the axle would be placed further back. However, regardless to type of semi it is, if the impact is near the center at all, the radiator core would probably pushed backward into the radiator fan, destroying both the core and fan. Front end damage would also occur, probably requiring a front end alignment as well as a 3 axle suspension alignment. Very good possiblity that the front motor mounts on the engine would be snapped off.

An example. September 11th 2001, we had a single vehicle crash involving a COE and a very large Oak tree. While most attention was given to the tragedy in New York which also occured that day, we were hauling live chickens. That was a heachache from hell. The driver survived, as well as most of the chickens (around 500 were never seen or heard from again) however the truck was totaled. (Go to sources for picture of Wrecked 362 Peterbilt)

Lets see another example. We had Mack truck (tractor trailer combination) with a Bulk Feed trailer attached to it. It was full, leaving the feed mill to get to the chiken farm. A garbage truck was turning rather slowly into the lane that the truck driver was going in (our driver was going around 60.)

Our driver has told this particular garbage truck driver that he CANT do that, and he shouldn't, along with some other things that shouldn't be repeated. However, beyond the point, there was another car coming in the opposite lane. Our driver just held onto the wheel as tight as he could, and braced for impact. He turned at the last second, saving the person in the other lane as well as not damaging the garbage truck to to much. We had it towed back to our farm. (look at sources for picture of wrecked Mack CH613)

I can't say much about the car, as I don't know a whole lot about them, howevre, I would say the added velocity of the semi with as much momentum as it would have would send the car flying or spinning... or being crushed underneathe.

All I can say is... always yield for things bigger than you. Especially for truck drivers who can have up to 80,000 running behind them - which will take awhile for it to stop...

I hope I've cleared some things up on the semi end, most of the replies before this one have said the driver would just brush it off. Not the case.

Answer 3

The semi always wins by virtue of physics, but injury depends on the truck. The tilt cab ones with the big flat face offer the driver little protection, the driver sits way up front. In that sort of truck the drivers legs stand to get crushed.

Others have the cab set back well behind the front end/engine and give the driver far greater protection. Chances are that driver would escape unhurt, assuming the truck did not flip over, etc...

In the real world what would probably happen is that the truck would ride up and over the front end of the car after crushing it with the bumper. It happened to an x-GF of mine in her tin can PT Cruiser, fortunately the truck drove over the hood and off the car before it got to the passenger compartment or she'd have been very dead.

Answer 4

Well about 3 years ago I was taking my girlfriend to the hospitol for contractions - she was 9 months pregnant.

We were about 15 miles from home, and about 20 miles from the hospitol.

I seen a Dodge Dynasty at a intersection that has a lot of bad wrecks, it enters a highway. M32 to be exact.

There was a semi coming full speed - 55+ and the Dynasty pulled out real slow.

I said this is not good - and pulled over and stopped, just before the impact.

I was close enough to see the truck drivers expression as he stood up on the brakes, and shut off the trucks ignition.

I got out and threw a blanket over the dynasty and then I waited for the cops to get there, and told them what I saw.

The woman driver and man passenger were both killed on impact, somehow the passengers head was in the drivers lap - very sickly.
Both elderly, and later was found out neither had a license.

The trucker also pretty close to retirement, quit trucking.
I cant say that I blame him, the company he worked for paid for the funeral, and also gave the trucker a early retirement.

Answer 5

The truck driver would not be hurt at all. Scary situation- I was the car (on the correct side of the road), the semi was driving on the wrong side of the road to pass a slow moving vehicle. I ended up going off road to avoid being hit!

Answer 6

If the truck driver's not buckled in, he/she might hit his head on something. Chances are though, he/she will probably still be going forward, but if he/she loses control immediately after the accident, he/she might flip the truck.

As for the other driver... there's a story off the "Volvo Saved Our Lives" campaign (currently running if you want to check) where the driver of a 2004 Volvo S40 (not sure on the year but it's the current model) swerved across a road because her dog jumped onto her lap and she hit a semi-truck head-on and... walked out of the car.

Answer 7

The semi driver would barely be jostled by the impact if he had his belt on. If he didn't, he might be looking at a bloody nose at worst. This assumes that he maintains control of the rig of course. That kind of impact could easily destroy part of the front suspension and if the driver lost control of the rig it could easily be fatal for both.

Answer 8

I hit a semi head on doing 55 and survived. It was not a pretty situation. Thank god I was in a 78 camero or I would have been dead upon impact. I walked away with no breaks and some memory loss.

Answer 9

I doubt it. It would depend on what kind of jostling about the truck did in coming to a stop. Anything can happen in an accident I suppose. It's kind of like a deer coming through the windshield of an SUV, no contest in size and durability, but freak things do happen. I've heard of people killed by it.

Answer 10

Where is your logic. Hope you are the truck driver and had a seat belt on, also you were not on the wrong side of the highway .